Terra Branford is one of the heroes fighting on the side of Cosmos in Dissidia Final Fantasy, and is originally a warrior of Chaos in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. She also appears in the arcade version. Representing Final Fantasy VI, she is a girl blessed, or cursed, with both the power of espers and magic. Terra's attacks are magical but she can strike with both long- and short-range attacks. Terra was forced to serve Chaos against her will, but in the next cycle has forgotten these events and now fights on the side of Cosmos. Her nemesis, Kefka, taunts her about her forgotten past and attempts to sway her back into his services.

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Terra is a delicate young woman with long curly blonde hair in a ponytail and purple eyes. Her outfit is based on her original Yoshitaka Amano artwork. She wears a sleeveless red dress with floral patterns, two long red gloves, several different sashes around her waist, and a pale pink cape. She wears patterned white tights and pointed red and gold high-heeled boots.

Terra's first alternate outfit, "Emerald Locks", is derived from her super-deformed art, while also resembling her Final Fantasy VI sprite. Her dress is a deeper shade of red, her hair is green, and her eyes are a deeper shade of purple. Her cloak bears no floral pattern and is purple at the top to approximate her sprite's shoulder pads, and she does not wear tights. Her esper form in EX Mode is pink, based on its Final Fantasy VI sprite.

Terra's second alternate costume is "Narshean Princess" based on another of Amano's artworks. She wears a blue bolero jacket with light blue sleeves over a white leotard, white boots, and a blue cape with wing designs on the collar. Her EX Mode is blue with turquoise claws. This outfit is Terra's attire in the storyline of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy while as a Warrior of Chaos.

Terra's fourth costume, "Striped Dress", is available as DLC, and is taken from another Amano drawing. She wears a black and white top and skirt with stripes, exposing her midriff, with a transparent gray-blue cape and a small cloth of the same color hanging under her skirt. Her hair is worn in a small bun rather than the ponytails seen in the other costumes. Terra's boots are black, and her gloves are shorter and colored a light blue. In this outfit her EX Mode is primarily green with yellow feet and claws.

Terra's crystal is red and black, a reference to the colors of her game's logo, and bears a pattern resembling a field of flames, referring to her connection with the Fire element.

Magic Warrior C -2nd alternate coloration. Recolors her dress pink and cape purple. It bears a close resemblance to Yoshitaka Amano's art of Krile Mayer Baldesion from Final Fantasy V.

1st Alternate Costume

Girl of Benevolence A - Default coloration. Based off her super deformed art* and her 16-bit sprite*. Terra has green hair from her "Emerald Locks" attire, and she wears a Fuchsia colored sleeveless dress, pointed boots, and wrist guards, and pink shoulder pauldrons and sash around her waist. Her Trance is still pink, but now has a green tint.

Enhancer - Default weapon. A sword she wields in her Yoshitaka Amano artwork, and in the Dissidia series. It was previously unnamed until the update for weapons was added. Similarly to the PSP games, Terra rarely uses her weapon in battle.

Rune Blade - 1st alternate weapon. An original design for Terra, the sword resembles a sabre, and has intricate details on the blade. The handle is black and has a swirl that stretches above the guard of the blade, with dark colored roses on the center of the guard.

Crystal Sword - 2nd alternate weapon. Another original design for Terra, the sword has a purple handle and a crystalline spiked center, with the blade being the longest spike.

The designs of the weapons are original, and they can be equipped and wielded by Terra in Final Fantasy VI.

Similar to her appearance in Final Fantasy VI, Terra is very confused and fearful, and once again suffers from amnesia (though unlike Final Fantasy VI, this amnesia is not unique to her). She often finds strength in others, and often seeks security in the other characters who at times choose to accompany her. Once again much like her Final Fantasy VI appearance, Terra also develops her own strength by understanding the others around her and by becoming much more confident and assertive, understanding her power and using it for a just cause instead of for evil.

Terra's battle quotes represent all the various points in her character development. She has quotes where she appears frightened and helpless, and others where she is more selfless and protective of others. Her quotes aimed at other characters are often sympathetic, and give the impression that she is trying to understand the other characters.

Terra is a Warrior of Chaos under Kefka's manipulation. Kuja weakens Kefka's spell over her before the cycle began, due to sympathizing with her predicament. After running off during her fight with Vaan, Terra is confronted by Kefka over her newfound reluctance to fight. He tortures her until Vaan comes to her aid and gets her out of harm's way.

Vaan, after fighting Kefka, retrieves Terra while Kefka is distracted by his giddiness from the fight, but when discovered Kefka is confident that she would come "running straight back into his arms, anyway" and decides not to pursue. Though she pleads with Vaan to kill her as she sees her power as danger to everyone around her, Vaan gives her reason to live because of his kindness. When they part ways, Vaan tells Terra to hide until he and the others beat Chaos, intending to have Terra join them.

While pondering Vaan's words, Terra sees manikins headed for Order's Sanctuary and decides to use her power to protect him and the others. She defeats the manikins and unknowingly finds her way to Cosmos's throne, where she passes out in front of the goddess and the Warrior of Light. Though Terra is a Warrior of Chaos Cosmos recognizes Terra wants to put an end to the conflict and converts her into a Warrior of Cosmos with the Warrior of Light as a witness.

Coming to at the start of the 13th cycle, Terra is attacked by manikins only for the Onion Knight to come to her aid. He suggests that he protect her after deducing she's not ready to fight. Terra recalls lingering memories of her encounter with Vaan and together the two search for the crystals, before she detects something in the distance. Though fearful, Terra follows the Onion Knight to the source where she loses control of her powers due to the slave crown reactivating, and unwillingly attacks the Onion Knight, forcing him to fight her to defend himself.

Despite the Onion Knight's attempts to calm her, Terra is spirited away by Cloud of Darkness. Though rescued, Terra has no memory of her attacking the Onion Knight, who decides not to tell her. Kefka appears and taunts Terra with her lost memories, alluding to her earlier attack on Onion Knight and how destructive she is. Terra refuses to believe him, and the Onion Knight attacks Kefka, teleporting both away with Terra left on her own.

Cloud explains Firion's dream to Terra.

Fighting the power in her, as well as being haunted by Kefka's earlier taunts about her powers, Terra encounters Cloud Strife who has obtained his crystal and fights her to provide an outlet for her strength to help her regain control of herself. Afterward Terra thanks him, though Cloud rejects her gratitude as he does not see proof it having helped, but Terra assures him he really did help her. Cloud thanks her for helping him realize he can help others, and accompanies Terra to search for the Onion Knight. Cloud presents Terra with Firion's rose and inspires her to hope for a world where dreams like Firion's could come true, and "all sorts of flowers can bloom".

The two confront Kefka who tempts Terra to give into her powers and rejoin him in causing destruction. Terra rebukes his claims, having found the will to fight to protect hope, and says that no matter what happens regarding her power, she will not lose sight of that. Kefka is enraged by her refusal as the Cloud of Darkness ambushes them and attacks Cloud, who pulls out his sword, ready to defend Terra. The Onion Knight reappears, and he and Cloud fight the Cloud of Darkness together, while Terra fights Kefka. Initially fleeing from his attacks, Terra stops running, fights, and defeats him. Relieved that Kefka is gone, and both the Onion Knight and Cloud are safe, Terra's crystal manifests. She departs with her two allies, having learned to control her powers, now believing that dreams they can give their holder the strength to make them a reality.

Terra holding her Crystal.

While rejoining the others, Terra talks with Cecil over how he copes with having to fight his brother. She expresses sympathy, hoping the war ends soon, but is saddened the end of the war means she won't see her friends again, and fears that when she returns she either won't have any friends to greet her, or she'll end up back on the battlefield at her homeworld, as the only memories she has are of war and strife. Cecil mentions that things weren't that different when they entered the conflict, and he's certain things will end well for her.

After obtaining the ten crystals, Cosmos's power is split among the heroes, and she loses her strength, leaving her at the mercy of Chaos, who kills her. After fighting their disappearance, Cosmos's Warriors set out to vanquish Chaos. Terra encounters Kefka in his tower where she demands Kefka reveal what he knows about the war, but Kefka only plots the destruction of everything in existence, even Chaos himself.

Terra strikes him down, and explains there are things she wants to protect and that merely searching for a meaning to life gives life meaning. Kefka claims life is a futile and meaningless experience, and craves for senseless destruction as he self-destructs with a sorrowful laugh. Terra speculates that Kefka's mindless rampages were to fill a void in his heart, and vows to continue on, even if she repeats the same life as those before her.

Terra returns to her world.

Terra and the others best Chaos sending them to a field near Cornelia Castle in World A, where, one by one, they return to their homeworlds. Before vanishing Terra thanks everyone for teaching her how to keep going while telling them to take care.

After the party defeats the Southern Lufenia Gateway to access the northern continents, Terra can be found wandering the snowfields near the Elven Castle teleport stone, provided she is not currently in the player's party. When spoken to she claims that every time she awakes her head hurts and she can't remember anything, and wishes to return to being a puppet. As the world of Confessions of the Creator is a hypothetical nightmare world where the cycles of war kept going and Feral Chaos killed all summoned warriors, this Terra is likely a spectre of the Terra of this alternate world. She vanishes when the party advances past the Mirage Sandsea to the Lands of Discord.

Terra has minor appearances in the official quests. "Firion's Quest 012: A Small Flower" pits her against Firion in the 12th cycle during Kefka's period of controlling her, the player fighting Terra as a boss with Firion. "Cloud of Darkness' Quest 013: The Power of Destruction" focuses on Terra after being kidnapped by the Cloud of Darkness, where she awakens and the Cloud of Darkness battles her to see her power in action. The encounter knocks Terra unconscious, leading into the scene where the Onion Knight finds the two. "Cecil's Quest 013: Even I Don't Remember It" has Terra as one of the comrades Cecil reunites with after claiming his Crystal, along with Tidus, Cloud and the Onion Knight. When Kuja appears before him Terra battles him but is defeated, her focus and faith shaken by Kuja's taunts that the bonds and dreams they cherish are delusions conjured by faded memories. Cecil tells her after he defeats Kuja that this is not true, as the friendship they all share was forged in battle during the cycles they've endured.

Terra's fighting style is Esperkin. Terra's attacks are almost all magical in nature, using her sword only in chase sequences, and unlike most Magic-oriented characters, Terra's attacks in chase sequences are physical. Terra's attacks are equally powerful at both long and close-ranges, and she is versatile in the air or on the ground, making her capable of zoning out melee fighters when played correctly. Her HP attacks similarly function at multiple ranges, and all of them crush guards, notably Flood, which is able to pierce though Exdeath's High Block and Jecht's Jecht Block.

Though her Magic-oriented style grants her potent projectiles as part of many of her Bravery attacks, this has a downside in that since they are projectiles, they can easily be dodged or blocked (and consequently reflected), and she has slow ground movement. Together with Tidus, Terra has one of the longest recovery times. However, when played smartly, she is a devastating punisher, especially in EX Mode, where she has access to the most powerful combo in the game - the Dualcast Holy-Flare-Ultima combo.

In the 2015 reboot, Terra is classified as a Shoot-type character and is skilled at long ranged combat using spells. She can either press the attack button to fire multiple projectiles to an opponent, or hold the attack button to use an advanced variant of the spell, which does more damage. Her HP Attacks are Meltdown, Meteor, Riot Blade and Chaos Wave, her father's special ability.

Hold to charge energy and shoot a ball of fire. Depending on the time spent charging, the attack has three forms. In EX Mode, the first form is triggered by pushing and towards the enemy, the second form is triggered by pushing and away from the enemy, and the third form is triggered by pressing alone.Form 1: shoot small fireball forward quickly. Low range but high speed.Form 2: shoot medium fireball forward that slowly accelerates and homes on enemies. Medium range and speed, strong homing.Form 3: shoot large fireball that bounces off walls and obstacles. Largest range and high speed, poor homing.

Hold to charge energy and shoot a ball of fire. Depending on the time spent charging, the attack has three forms. In EX Mode, the first form is triggered by pushing and towards the enemy, the second form is triggered by pushing and away from the enemy, and the third form is triggered by pressing alone.Form 1: shoot small fireball forward quickly. Low range but high speed.Form 2: shoot medium fireball forward that homes on enemies. Medium range and speed, strong homing.Form 3: shoot large fireball that bounces off walls and obstacles. Largest range and high speed, strong homing.

Conjure a spherical field of energy around the opponent that hits them multiple times and then explodes. In EX Mode, can either collapse and expand field a second time to do additional Bravery damage, or can create a second field after the first explodes to deal HP damage twice.

Conjure a spherical field of energy around opponent that explodes after growing larger. In EX Mode can either collapse and expand field a second time to do additional Bravery damage, or can create a second field after the first explodes to deal HP damage twice.

Terra's EX Mode is Trance, where she transforms into her esper form from Final Fantasy VI gaining the abilities "Glide" and "Chainspell". The former lets her fly through the air by holding , while the latter lets her attack twice in succession by pressing (for a Bravery attack) or (for an HP attack) a second time. The second spell executes faster than if Terra simply used the same attack twice, and in the case of Graviga and Meltdown, she does not need to charge the spell a second time. She also uses her claws instead of her sword in chase sequences, but the change is only visual. During EX Mode, she gains the most powerful combo in the game - Doublecast Holy into Doublecast Flare and ending with Doublecast Ultima - which has the added effect of allowing Terra to EX Burst if the combo does not finish off her opponent.

Terra's EX Burst is Riot Blade, her Desperation Attack in Final Fantasy VI. Terra attacks with Blizzara, then charges energy into her arms. The player must rapidly press in tandem with the button to charge two power meters within a time limit. If the player successfully fills both meters before time is up, Terra spins and whips out her arms to fire several crescent-shaped energy blades at the opponent. Failing to do so will have her fire fewer blades.

Terra's EX Mode plays a critical role in Terra's character due to her struggle to control her esper form. Thus when she is fought as a storyline enemy she transforms into EX Mode at the beginning of the fight, and due to a unique accessory, remains in EX Mode for an extended period of time.

Fires a high-speed fireball at the opponent. Pressing the button allows Terra to fire up to 7 fireballs consecutively max. The attack has a fairly long range, but only goes in a straight line, allowing the opponent to easily dodge it. Can be used while moving. Best used to pursue an enemy or to intercept an enemy attacking an ally.

Charged version fires a huge blast of fire in front of Terra for a good distance. Will knock the opponent away upon contact, and has great vertical reach. However, it has poor vertical reach. Best used to intercept an enemy jumping at Terra.

Terra's role as a forced Warrior of Chaos in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy alludes to her enslavement to the Gestahlian Empire in Final Fantasy VI. During the battles against her in Destiny Odyssey III and Dissidia 012's Chapter 2, the enemy data for her lists her as wearing a "Puppeteer's Wheel", called "Slave Crown" in the Japanese release, which Kefka used to control her in Final Fantasy VI. If she fights the Emperor in the first game, he will say "[chuckle] Why don't you let me control you?" further referring to how the Gestahlian Empire enslaved her.

Terra's relation to Vaan in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy may allude to fellow Final Fantasy VI character Locke Cole, a treasure hunter who meets Terra in the beginning of Final Fantasy VI and protects her.

Terra's relation to Cloud contains references to his relationship with Aerith in Final Fantasy VII and its related works, especially when Cloud refuses her thanks, saying it is enough to know he can help others. Like Aerith, Terra is of mixed race (Terra is half-esper while Aerith is half-Cetra) and uses magic. Helping Terra gives Cloud the chance to atone for being unable to help Aerith. The battle between Terra and Cloud where he fights her to calm her down takes place in the Planet's Core from Gaia.

Tifa's pre-fight quote against Terra if the former's an opponent references what she told Cloud Strife when helping him regain his memories. Coincidentally, both Terra and Cloud were at key points of their respective games rendered amnesiac by the main antagonist as well as being used in a puppet-like manner (Terra due to being outfitted with the Slave Crown prior to the events of the game by Kefka, and Cloud due to being experimented upon by Professor Hojo and becoming a quasi-Sephiroth Clone and thus being subject to manipulation by Sephiroth, and also being rendered cataconic after supplying Sephiroth with Black Materia due to despair.).

Terra's strongest exclusive weapon is named for her father, Maduin. Her other unique weapons are maces from Final Fantasy VI, one of the weapon types Terra can use in that game.

The description of the Chainspell ability describes it as "[embracing] the spirit of a magus". This refers to the Soul of Thamasa relic in Final Fantasy VI, which grants the Dualcast ability to the user.

In Shade Impulse C4-1, Terra says, "This will most likely be our final battle. Together, we'll protect the future... and return to our homes", based on her line when rejoining the party after the end of the world in Final Fantasy VI.

In the ending, Terra catches a snowflake and looks up at the sky as she vanishes, snow swirling behind her. This mirrors a scene in the FMV with the Final Fantasy Anthology release of Final Fantasy VI, where Terra looks up at the sky when entering Narshe.

One of Terra's victory quotes, "Everyone lusts for power, it seems", is the line she spoke in front of General Leo's grave. Her defeated quote, "I'll vanish, won't I?" refers to the conversation the party had upon entering Kefka's Tower, where they worry Terra would vanish along with magic if Kefka is killed.

Terra cuddling a moogle.

Terra's love for moogles is expressed in the English version of Dissidia Final Fantasy upon gaining the moogle summon. When obtaining the summon players are treated to a cinematic of the moogle offering its help to the player. Depending on whether the player is currently using a Cosmos or Chaos character, the scene changes, but if Terra is the player character, she runs over, picks the moogle up and cuddles it, with the moogle asking her to "lay off on the fur ruffling".

When the player wins the Arcade Mode with Terra, an image of her alternate costume with green hair is shown. In this image, Terra is posed in the same manner as one of the concept arts of her from Final Fantasy VI.

At the start of her Destiny Odyssey story, Terra has lost part of her memory when the Cloud of Darkness was trying to control her, and the Onion Knight tells her he would protect her. This alludes to the beginning of Final Fantasy VI when Terra awakes in Narshe with amnesia and Locke promises to protect her until she regains her memories.

When Terra casts Blizzara, she yells "Get away!" In data texts for Final Fantasy VI, there is an omitted line for a flashback to Kefka placing the slave crown on her, where Terra shouts "No! Stay away!"

When Vaan fights Trance Terra in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy story mode, the music "Esper Battle" from Final Fantasy XII plays, alluding to Terra being a half-esper.

When Terra is first played on the world map in her chapter of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, she begins on a snow-covered field and mentions to Onion Knight that it makes her "feel nostalgic". This refers to where she first appearing outside Narshe in Final Fantasy VI.

In the opening gateway of the Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Scenario '013: The Final Battle, Chapter 3', there is a treasure chest that gives 1994 Gil, a reference to the release year of Final Fantasy VI.

The colors of Terra's crystal (red and black) are colors of the Final Fantasy VI logo.

Terra's quote when facing Jecht in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, "You're like a big teddy bear", refers to when she saw Sabin for the first time in Final Fantasy VI and compares him to a bear.

Terra's pose when using Meltdown, as well as when teleporting from Kefka's spell cluster during their fight in Destiny Odyssey, is based on an Amano artwork of her.

All of Terra's attacks aside from Thundara, Tornado and Flood are spells she or Celes could learn naturally in Final Fantasy VI. Flood wasn't present in the Super NES release of Final Fantasy VI, only appearing in the Advance re-release. Meanwhile, Thundara is taught by Ramuh and Maduin, two espers closely connected with Terra, while Tornado is taught by Midgardsormr, located near Narshe where Final Fantasy VI begins.

In "Confessions of the Creator", Terra, when found at the snowfields near the Elven Castle, will remark that every time she wakes up her head hurts and she can't remember anything, and desires to return to being a puppet. This refers to the beginning of Final Fantasy VI, where Terra was found in the Narshe Mines after the frozen esper disabled her slave crown, with Terra waking up with amnesia and a headache.

Terra's reply to Kefka's nihilistic question in Shade Impulse 4 after beating him is similar to her reply to Kefka's nihilistic line in the GBA and mobile versions of Final Fantasy VI.

The image of Terra on the Potion energy drink is not based on her finalized artwork, but an earlier version of her artwork before Tetsuya Nomura redesigned her. This earlier version has a different face, shorter bangs and larger breasts, and was the first artwork released of Terra before her full artwork was released.

Tetsuya Nomura has stated Terra is his favorite character to use in Dissidia Final Fantasy, as he likes long-range attacks and is particularly fond of her Tornado ability.

Terra's EX Burst has the third-highest base power in Dissidia Final Fantasy, after Cloud and Tidus, and fifth-highest in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy with Gilgamesh and Tifa's also being stronger. However, Cloud, Tidus and Tifa only do maximum damage with their EX Bursts due to a variable, while the power of Terra's EX Burst is set.

If Terra is amid casting Tornado when Aerith casts Holy, Terra's Tornado will block the move. This makes Terra the only person able to to protect themselves from Holy without the Precision Block ability.

Terra is one of the first six characters announced for the Dissidia arcade game.